News

Last weekend’s Relay for Life in Three Rivers generated nearly $100,000. Event organizers said more than $98,000 was raised through pledges and donations. The relay, which helps raise funds for cancer research, started Friday evening and ended 24 hours later at Three Rivers High School. A team from American Axle & Manufacturing was recognized for contributing more than $37,000. Other …

Sturgis Hospital marked National Nursing Week by honoring Alicia Navarro, RN, with the Faye Kerschner Nursing Excellence Award. Navarro provides patient care on the Medical/Surgical Unit and CCU, and also oversees education for nursing staff on her unit, and works to keep nursing policies updated. The award is given in memory of Faye Kerschner, a Sturgis Hospital nurse who was …

A public hearing on parking violations in Constantine is on tap next month, following discussion at a recent Constantine Village Council meeting. Council members earlier this month discussed imposing stiff fines, including vehicle impoundment, for improper and overtime parking in the business district. The council set a public hearing for 7:05 p.m. July 21 regarding the issue. Village manager Mark …

A Three Rivers man was charged with a number of motor-vehicle violations following an incident last weekend in Flowerfield Township. State police said a trooper was dispatched to the area of Null and Pulver roads around 6:30 p.m. Sunday in response to a civil complaint. While the trooper was on the scene, a 42-year-old man who was involved in the …

Authorities say a 50-year-old man has been injured in an explosion while trying to make fireworks at his home in southwestern Michigan. Officers were called around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday to the home in Portage. Public safety Lt. John Blue says a suspected methamphetamine lab also was found at the scene, but that’s being investigated separately. Battalion Chief Rick Palmer says …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has signed a contract with a Sturgis-area man to serve as the grounds attendant at Cade Lake County Park. During action earlier this month, the commission and Burr Oak Township resident Richard Dell settled an agreement leading to Dell’s role for the summer and early fall months at the Fawn River Township park. …

St. Joseph County’s Central Dispatch is asking for help to reduce an increasing number of nuisance 911 calls placed by cell phones stored in pockets, purses and bags. These 911 pocket dials calls usually result from an object depressing a key on the cell phone’s keyboard that is programmed to dial 911 in case of emergencies. Most open-face phones have …

A White Pigeon woman was injured in a two-vehicle accident last week in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff’s deputies said a car driven by Becky Worth, 48, was heading west on U.S. 12 around 5:30 a.m. June 18 when an approaching car driven by 21-year-old Dwight Ottman of Cassopolis crossed the center line. The vehicles struck in the westbound lane, …

A Sturgis man suffered minor injuries last weekend after the motorcycle he was driving struck a deer in Sherman Township. Sheriff’s officials said Samuel Brackob, 25, was heading north on Balk Road Saturday when a deer entered the roadway near Mintdale Road. Brackob’s motorcycle struck the deer, causing the cycle to veer off the road and come to rest in …

The smell of death in the air at Michigan State University drew crowds following the blooming of the corpse flower. The roughly 5-foot tall flower has the formal name Amorphophallus titanum. Its smell is described as like that of a rotting body, or sometimes merely like dirty socks. Hundreds of people stood in line Tuesday to see the flower at …